Boeing Delivers First Direct Purchase 737-700 to Ruili Airlines

KUNMING, China, Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Ruili Airlines today celebrated the arrival of the airline's first direct purchase Next-Generation 737-700. Ruili is a newly established private airline based at Changshui International Airport in Kunming, the capital city of China'sYunnan province.

"This is a momentous step forward for Ruili Airlines as we continue to enhance our fleet," said Ma Zhanwei, president, Ruili Airlines. "We hope that the competitive advantages offered by the 737 will enable us to grow from a start-up airline to a driving force in China's aviation industry."

The new airplane is the first of 14 737 orders and commitments from Ruili Airlines, including eight 737-700s and six 737 MAXs. The carrier currently operates two 737-700s and one 737-800 serving seven domestic routes in China.

"We are honored to celebrate this milestone delivery with Ruili Airlines," said Ihssane Mounir, vice president of Sales for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Our Next-Generation 737 delivers market-leading efficiency, reliability, and operating costs, which will all contribute significantly to the successful growth of Ruili Airlines."

Known for its reliability, fuel efficiency and economical performance, the 737-700 has been selected by leading carriers throughout the world, and has contributed more than 1,200 orders to the strong success of Next-Generation 737 family orders.

Ruili Airlines obtained its public air transport enterprise business license from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in February 2014, marking the formal establishment of the carrier. The start-up airline is the first private carrier approved by CAAC after the regulator relaxed restrictions on new carriers in 2013. According to its development plan, Ruili Airlines plans to increase its fleet to 30 Boeing airplanes by 2020, with around 120 daily flights on 60 to 70 routes.